Blitz Questionnaire - Weasel

[Weasel]

The following use to appear in the newsletter, but now that the letter is dead I have decided to start posting the questionnaire here. If you wish to partake, download the form, complete it and send it to me. I will post one questionnaire each week.


What is your name?
Chris Ireland

How did you decide upon your Blitz nickname?
It is a name my wife gave me. She says it is because she thinks Weasels are cute, but I think it may have more to do with my “flanking” attacks on her while we were dating.

What ladders are you represented on?
Steel Panthers

What is your favorite PC War-game?
Right now it is winMBT; this game can really cause some headaches if you spend a lot of time thinking about what you are doing.

Who has been your hardest opponent?
No single opponent has been the toughest, but the ones who give me the most headaches, as per above, are: Steel God, Vesku, and Walrus. Every game seems to swing back and forth before a final outcome is reached. I have never run over any of these opponents.

How long have you been a member of the Blitz?
I joined in 1999. Wow, it has been 8 years already, how the time flies when you are busy killing pixels!

What War interests you the most?
I guess WW2 gets the donought here, but I also like reading personal memoirs about Vietnam and the US Civil War too.

If you could choose to be present at one historical event what would it be?
Normandy Invasion. Since most of the film was dropped into the English Channel there isn’t much to view on the biggest event in our recent history.

What is your favorite War movie?
The one movie that I can watch over and over again would have to be Das Boat, with Band of Brother’s a close second. I think Das Boat has been the only sub movie I have ever seen that captures what I believe life would have been like in a sardine can.

What do you snack on while gaming?
Sometimes I will have a beer or coffee, but most of the time nothing.

What is your favorite and least favorite aspect of the Blitz website?
The best part of the Blitz is, and always has been, the people. It is great getting to know persons whom life would never have put you in touch with otherwise.

Least favorite is that it seems only about 10% of those signed up ever post on the message boards. I would like to hear more from others.

Do you own any war memorabilia?
A WW1 campaign medal, but that is it.

What is the best military book you have read?
The Forgotten Soldier – Guy Sajer. Sajer was a French/German who served with the Gross Deutschland Division from 1943 onwards. Boy, I thought I had it tough out in the field!

What do you think was the single most important event of WWII?
When Hitler took over command of the German Army from his Generals and dictated the war. I believe that if his General Staff had had a free hand in the war they would have conquered Russia in 1941 as they wouldn’t have split Army Group Centre down the middle like they did. It would have then been tough going, if not impossible for the Allies to win.

What is the most interesting documentary you have ever watched?
Dear America – Letters Home From Vietnam. Man, some of those soldiers could really rip your heart out with their letters. If you have not seen this movie, rent it!

What is your favorite version of Steel Panthers?
As stated above, MBT. No two games are the same. The problem with WW2 is they always boil down to Tiger/Panther versus Sherman/T34. Very redundant.

Are there any war games catching your eye at present?
I think I will be getting Ghost Recon – Advanced War fighter 2 when it comes down in price. I refuse to pay $50 for any game when three months later they drop to $19.99.

What piece of wisdom would you like to pass on to your fellow Blitz members?
Play the best opponent you can, that is how you learn. And don’t be afraid to ask questions both on the MB and during game play with your opponent. If you keep finding that your tanks are getting wiped out and you can’t stop it, ask your opponent what you are doing wrong. And never give up hope!